Actor
George Bancroft
Born 30 September 1882 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA — died 2 October 1956
George Bancroft (1882–1956) was an American actor who became a major star as a gruff, commanding lead in late silent and early sound films. He is best remembered for his work with director Josef von Sternberg. In the late 1930s he moved into strong supporting roles.
Key films
Underworld (1927)
Von Sternberg's influential gangster film made Bancroft a star as the crime boss 'Bull' Weed.
The Docks of New York (1928)
Another Sternberg collaboration, a celebrated late-silent drama with Bancroft as a rough stoker.
Thunderbolt (1929)
His early sound gangster lead, which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (1936)
Supporting role in Frank Capra's acclaimed comedy, showing his move into character parts.
Stagecoach (1939)On Cinespective
As the lawman Curly Wilcox in John Ford's landmark Western, he had one of his best-known late roles.
Key awards
- 1930 Academy Award nomination, Best Actor (Thunderbolt); no major wins documented here
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 58
- 1922The Prodigal Judge · as CavendishActor
- 1923Driven · as Lem TolliverActor
- 1924Teeth · as Dan AngusActor
- 1924The Deadwood Coach · as Tex WilsonActor
- 1925The Pony Express · as Jack SladeActor
- 1925The Rainbow Trail · as Jake WilletsActor
- 1925Code of the West · as Enoch ThurmanActor
- 1925The Splendid Road · as Buck LockwellActor
- 1926Old Ironsides · as GunnerActor
- 1926The Runaway · as Lesher SkidmoreActor
- 1926Sea Horses · as CochranActor
- 1926The Enchanted Hill · as Ira ToddActor
- 1927Underworld · as Bull WeedActor
- 1927White Gold · as Sam RandallActor
- 1927The Rough Riders · as Happy JoeActor
- 1927Too Many Crooks · as Bert the BoxmanActor
- 1927Tell It to Sweeney · as Cannonball CaseyActor
- 1928The Docks of New York · as Bill RobertsActor
- 1928The Drag Net · as Two-Gun NolanActor
- 1928The Showdown · as CardanActor
- 1929Thunderbolt · as Thunderbolt Jim LangActor
- 1929The Wolf of Wall Street · as The WolfActor
- 1929The Mighty · as Blake GreesonActor
- 1930Paramount on Parade · as MugActor
- 1930Ladies Love Brutes · as Joe ForziatiActor
- 1930Derelict · as Bill RaffertyActor
- 1931The Skin Game · as Second StrangerActor
- 1931Rich Man's Folly · as Brock TrumbullActor
- 1931Scandal Sheet · as Mark FlintActor
- 1931Screen Snapshots (Series 10, No. 8) · as SelfActor
- 1932Lady and Gent · as Percival 'Slag' BaileyActor
- 1932The World and the Flesh · as KylenkoActor
- 1933Blood Money · as Bill BaileyActor
- 1934Elmer and Elsie · as Elmer BeebeActor
- 1936Mr. Deeds Goes to Town · as MacWadeActor
- 1936Wedding Present · as Pete StaggActor
- 1936Hell-Ship Morgan · as Captain Ira 'Hell-Ship' MorganActor
- 1937A Doctor's Diary · as Dr. Clem DriscollActor
- 1937Racketeers in Exile · as William WaldoActor
- 1937John Meade's Woman · as Tim MathewsActor
- 1938Angels with Dirty Faces · as Mac KeeferActor
- 1938Submarine Patrol · as Capt. LeedsActor
- 1939Stagecoach · as Marshal Curly WilcoxActor
- 1939Each Dawn I Die · as Prison Warden John ArmstrongActor
- 1939Espionage Agent · as Dudley GarrettActor
- 1939Rulers of the Sea · as Capt. OliverActor
- 1939Land of Liberty · as (archive footage)Actor
- 1940North West Mounted Police · as Jacques CorbeauActor
- 1940When the Daltons Rode · as Caleb WintersActor
- 1940Green Hell · as Jim 'Tex' MorganActor
- 1940Young Tom Edison · as Samuel 'Sam' EdisonActor
- 1940Little Men · as Major I.I. BurdleActor
- 1941Texas · as Windy MillerActor
- 1942Syncopation · as Steve PorterActor
- 1942Whistling in Dixie · as Sheriff Claude StaggActor
- 1942The Bugle Sounds · as 'Russ' RussellActor
- 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1984Going Hollywood: The '30s · as (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.